At last night’s Critics Choice Awards, Cynthia Erivo looked like a beam of moonlight in a dark sky. Turns out, that was intentional: The Wicked actress and her longtime makeup artist, Joanna Simkin, were inspired by her black Armani Privè gown and the inclement weather. “The dress’s fabric had a sheen that felt wet, and the weather was wet, so I thought, Let’s make the makeup look wet, too,” Simkin tells ELLE. Starting with skin prep, she created a natural, dewy base using light products that wouldn’t clog or irritate the skin. She started with CeraVe’s Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser, and then went in a layer of Hydrating Toner. Lastly, she finished off with the Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel for a touch of hydration.
In terms of makeup, the duo wanted a natural skin-like finish with a luminous glow. Simkin opted for Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation in shades 10 and 13 before layering on a slew of other illuminating products to give her a glow that would pop on the red carpet. The brand’s Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer in shade 110, Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer in shade 10, and Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter in shade 5 were all layered on the cheekbones and high points of the face for multi-dimensional reflection. On the eyes, Simkin used black pencil that was smudged out with Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow for a dewy look that would last the whole night.
As intricate as Erivo’s beat may seem, the process was quite simple. “We don’t often plan glam out too far, because she can wake up feeling a certain vibe,” Simkin says. “The morning of the show, I found a few wet look inspiration images on TikTok and sent them to her, saying it was the vibe I was feeling. I got an almost immediate heart [reaction] back on a video with a cool, smudgy eye and wet skin, so I knew we were a go. It was a quick, easy, emoji-led collaboration!”
Simkin adds: “I always tell people that the difference between glowy and sweaty is middle-of-the-forehead shine and front-of the-cheek shine. Another easy way to achieve the look at home is to use a clear lip gloss on the cheekbones, tip of nose, and all over the eyelids.” Et voilà, a red carpet-ready makeup look that’s even perfect for rainy days.